Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 March 2004
140 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he has any plans to increase the number of development workers currently working in disadvantaged rural communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7663/04]
View answerThe community development support programme provides support to 46 locally-based community groups involved in anti-poverty and social inclusion initiatives in rural areas. The aim of the programme is to mobilise the capacity of disadvantaged communities to participate in mainstream local development, training and education and enterprise and employment opportunities. The programme provides core funding which equates to the cost of two full-time staff equivalents, usually a development worker and an administrator, together with the overheads and administration costs of running a resource centre.
I am also supporting a small number of pilot projects aimed at testing the success of development workers in regenerating particularly disadvantaged rural areas. This initiative is being funded from my Department's rural development fund. These projects, located in Donegal, Galway and Kerry, involve a variety of community-based initiatives aimed at reducing rural deprivation. These projects will be evaluated later this year.
